Latest news with #HunterTransmissionProject
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Work in progress: bottlenecks hinder green export hub
Slow project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing. Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain workers for future careers are bright spots in a thorough assessment of the NSW region led by industry think tank Beyond Zero Emissions. Yet the Hunter was lagging on 17 of the 19 indicators of a successful shift towards an economy powered by decarbonised industrial exports, such as green iron and clean technology. Slow-moving clean energy projects are a big problem, with 74 per cent of renewable energy capacity in the pipeline yet to receive planning approval and facing delays of up to eight years. Much hinges on the timely rollout of the Hunter Transmission Project, key infrastructure for unlocking supply from renewable energy zones but still in its early phases and struggling to get full community buy-in. Local company commitments to cut emissions and shift to clean energy could be in jeopardy without faster progress, according to the report. Tomago Aluminium, a major energy user as the nation's biggest smelter, is in danger of missing its 100 per cent renewables by 2030 target without securing reliable, affordable clean energy soon. BZE chief executive officer Heidi Lee said if the Hunter Transmission Project was not delivered on time, the region would continue to rely on "expensive and polluting" coal. "It's time for action," she said. "The region understands the importance of good planning to keep the shift happening quickly here, because local advantages will be lost if we take too long." Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said workforce, training and project proposals "spending nearly a decade in consultation hell" were interrelated problems. "There's no certainty for developers, and hence no reliable pipeline of work to support the workforce and train apprentices on anywhere the scale we need - an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years," he said. Several Hunter industry figures voiced their support for the think tank's assessment of the region and recommendations to get things moving. Founder of Australian battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance, Brian Craighead, said accelerating investment, building a strong local workforce and progressing the energy transition were key. "Unlocking the Hunter's full potential requires collaboration across government, industry, and communities - guided by clear, consistent policy," he said.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Work in progress: bottlenecks hinder green export hub
Slow project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing. Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain workers for future careers are bright spots in a thorough assessment of the NSW region led by industry think tank Beyond Zero Emissions. Yet the Hunter was lagging on 17 of the 19 indicators of a successful shift towards an economy powered by decarbonised industrial exports, such as green iron and clean technology. Slow-moving clean energy projects are a big problem, with 74 per cent of renewable energy capacity in the pipeline yet to receive planning approval and facing delays of up to eight years. Much hinges on the timely rollout of the Hunter Transmission Project, key infrastructure for unlocking supply from renewable energy zones but still in its early phases and struggling to get full community buy-in. Local company commitments to cut emissions and shift to clean energy could be in jeopardy without faster progress, according to the report. Tomago Aluminium, a major energy user as the nation's biggest smelter, is in danger of missing its 100 per cent renewables by 2030 target without securing reliable, affordable clean energy soon. BZE chief executive officer Heidi Lee said if the Hunter Transmission Project was not delivered on time, the region would continue to rely on "expensive and polluting" coal. "It's time for action," she said. "The region understands the importance of good planning to keep the shift happening quickly here, because local advantages will be lost if we take too long." Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said workforce, training and project proposals "spending nearly a decade in consultation hell" were interrelated problems. "There's no certainty for developers, and hence no reliable pipeline of work to support the workforce and train apprentices on anywhere the scale we need - an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years," he said. Several Hunter industry figures voiced their support for the think tank's assessment of the region and recommendations to get things moving. Founder of Australian battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance, Brian Craighead, said accelerating investment, building a strong local workforce and progressing the energy transition were key. "Unlocking the Hunter's full potential requires collaboration across government, industry, and communities - guided by clear, consistent policy," he said.
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Abandoned ideals of empathy, compassion and morality': Hunter landholders slam EnergyCo.
Three Hunter landholders have told a parliamentary inquiry that they have been collateral damage in the quest to build the state's new renewable energy transmission infrastructure at breakneck speed. Ian Barry, Kathy Morris and Ben Turner, who testified at the Upper House inquiry looking into the impact of renewable energy zones on regional communities, said that their lives had been irreparably damaged by the compulsory land acquisition process undertaken for the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP). The government's energy corporation, EnergyCo, which is responsible for planning the 100-kilometre transmission line between Bayswater and Eraring power stations, was universally condemned for unceasingly bullying landholders who resisted its plans. "Energy Co. has abandoned ideals of empathy, compassion and morality and taken a path of ill-conceived shortcuts and oversights," Cedar Creek resident Ian Barry told the inquiry. Mr Barry, who has advanced motor neurone disease, said he and his wife Vicky had spent a year arguing that more suitable alternatives to running high-voltage power lines across his land existed. Despite that, they were advised late last year that EnergyCo would compulsorily acquire an easement through their property, resulting in infrastructure coming within 600 metres of the house where Mr Barry had hoped to spend his final days in peace. "Effectively, easement doesn't mean renting your land. It means you no longer own it," Mr Barry, who previously shared his experiences with NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, said. "We have a year of diary entries documenting land access, coercion of neighbours, frequent bullying, phony eco-visits, lies, plus instances where EnergyCo. workers denied me basic disability rights like recording meetings and withholding information like easement details of our own land." Kathy and Peter Morris's 20-hectare property on the fringe of Pokolbin State Forest will also be compulsorily acquired for the HTP. Ms Morris said, based on her experience Energy Co was a "disorganised, self contradictory, mostly unfeeling, mostly un-listening, entity that is miserly with facts and seeks to overreach and bludgeon affected land holders into submission." Most of the property's dense native vegetation, much of which has been rehabilitated, is likely to be cleared for transmission infrastructure. Likewise, an animal sanctuary located on the property will also go by the wayside. Despite the emotional impact, Ms Morris said EnergyCo representatives had made her feel like she was an inconvenience to them. "We've been told that we're too emotional about the loss of our home. I have been told I am too angry, and when am I going to get over it? I have been told that I should be happy with what I get," she said. "I thought that EnergyCo was a public body serving the people of NSW, but it acts like its activities are state secrets and we are spies for the opposing government." Ben Turner's family owns a 175 hectare property in the Watagan Valley south of Cessnock that is due to have high voltage power lines strung over it. He told the inquiry that a power imbalance existed between the acquisition authority and landowners. "There is an inherent negotiating imbalance between a well-funded government entity and a dispossessed landowner who is not paid for their time in navigating the dispossession that they did not want in the first place," he said. "Secondly, acquiring authorities general unconditional reliance on their own valuer and other experts leaves little room for meaningful negotiation or compromise in circumstances where reasonable, qualified expert opinions may differ between the parties." Three Hunter landholders have told a parliamentary inquiry that they have been collateral damage in the quest to build the state's new renewable energy transmission infrastructure at breakneck speed. Ian Barry, Kathy Morris and Ben Turner, who testified at the Upper House inquiry looking into the impact of renewable energy zones on regional communities, said that their lives had been irreparably damaged by the compulsory land acquisition process undertaken for the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP). The government's energy corporation, EnergyCo, which is responsible for planning the 100-kilometre transmission line between Bayswater and Eraring power stations, was universally condemned for unceasingly bullying landholders who resisted its plans. "Energy Co. has abandoned ideals of empathy, compassion and morality and taken a path of ill-conceived shortcuts and oversights," Cedar Creek resident Ian Barry told the inquiry. Mr Barry, who has advanced motor neurone disease, said he and his wife Vicky had spent a year arguing that more suitable alternatives to running high-voltage power lines across his land existed. Despite that, they were advised late last year that EnergyCo would compulsorily acquire an easement through their property, resulting in infrastructure coming within 600 metres of the house where Mr Barry had hoped to spend his final days in peace. "Effectively, easement doesn't mean renting your land. It means you no longer own it," Mr Barry, who previously shared his experiences with NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, said. "We have a year of diary entries documenting land access, coercion of neighbours, frequent bullying, phony eco-visits, lies, plus instances where EnergyCo. workers denied me basic disability rights like recording meetings and withholding information like easement details of our own land." Kathy and Peter Morris's 20-hectare property on the fringe of Pokolbin State Forest will also be compulsorily acquired for the HTP. Ms Morris said, based on her experience Energy Co was a "disorganised, self contradictory, mostly unfeeling, mostly un-listening, entity that is miserly with facts and seeks to overreach and bludgeon affected land holders into submission." Most of the property's dense native vegetation, much of which has been rehabilitated, is likely to be cleared for transmission infrastructure. Likewise, an animal sanctuary located on the property will also go by the wayside. Despite the emotional impact, Ms Morris said EnergyCo representatives had made her feel like she was an inconvenience to them. "We've been told that we're too emotional about the loss of our home. I have been told I am too angry, and when am I going to get over it? I have been told that I should be happy with what I get," she said. "I thought that EnergyCo was a public body serving the people of NSW, but it acts like its activities are state secrets and we are spies for the opposing government." Ben Turner's family owns a 175 hectare property in the Watagan Valley south of Cessnock that is due to have high voltage power lines strung over it. He told the inquiry that a power imbalance existed between the acquisition authority and landowners. "There is an inherent negotiating imbalance between a well-funded government entity and a dispossessed landowner who is not paid for their time in navigating the dispossession that they did not want in the first place," he said. "Secondly, acquiring authorities general unconditional reliance on their own valuer and other experts leaves little room for meaningful negotiation or compromise in circumstances where reasonable, qualified expert opinions may differ between the parties." Three Hunter landholders have told a parliamentary inquiry that they have been collateral damage in the quest to build the state's new renewable energy transmission infrastructure at breakneck speed. Ian Barry, Kathy Morris and Ben Turner, who testified at the Upper House inquiry looking into the impact of renewable energy zones on regional communities, said that their lives had been irreparably damaged by the compulsory land acquisition process undertaken for the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP). The government's energy corporation, EnergyCo, which is responsible for planning the 100-kilometre transmission line between Bayswater and Eraring power stations, was universally condemned for unceasingly bullying landholders who resisted its plans. "Energy Co. has abandoned ideals of empathy, compassion and morality and taken a path of ill-conceived shortcuts and oversights," Cedar Creek resident Ian Barry told the inquiry. Mr Barry, who has advanced motor neurone disease, said he and his wife Vicky had spent a year arguing that more suitable alternatives to running high-voltage power lines across his land existed. Despite that, they were advised late last year that EnergyCo would compulsorily acquire an easement through their property, resulting in infrastructure coming within 600 metres of the house where Mr Barry had hoped to spend his final days in peace. "Effectively, easement doesn't mean renting your land. It means you no longer own it," Mr Barry, who previously shared his experiences with NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, said. "We have a year of diary entries documenting land access, coercion of neighbours, frequent bullying, phony eco-visits, lies, plus instances where EnergyCo. workers denied me basic disability rights like recording meetings and withholding information like easement details of our own land." Kathy and Peter Morris's 20-hectare property on the fringe of Pokolbin State Forest will also be compulsorily acquired for the HTP. Ms Morris said, based on her experience Energy Co was a "disorganised, self contradictory, mostly unfeeling, mostly un-listening, entity that is miserly with facts and seeks to overreach and bludgeon affected land holders into submission." Most of the property's dense native vegetation, much of which has been rehabilitated, is likely to be cleared for transmission infrastructure. Likewise, an animal sanctuary located on the property will also go by the wayside. Despite the emotional impact, Ms Morris said EnergyCo representatives had made her feel like she was an inconvenience to them. "We've been told that we're too emotional about the loss of our home. I have been told I am too angry, and when am I going to get over it? I have been told that I should be happy with what I get," she said. "I thought that EnergyCo was a public body serving the people of NSW, but it acts like its activities are state secrets and we are spies for the opposing government." Ben Turner's family owns a 175 hectare property in the Watagan Valley south of Cessnock that is due to have high voltage power lines strung over it. He told the inquiry that a power imbalance existed between the acquisition authority and landowners. "There is an inherent negotiating imbalance between a well-funded government entity and a dispossessed landowner who is not paid for their time in navigating the dispossession that they did not want in the first place," he said. "Secondly, acquiring authorities general unconditional reliance on their own valuer and other experts leaves little room for meaningful negotiation or compromise in circumstances where reasonable, qualified expert opinions may differ between the parties." Three Hunter landholders have told a parliamentary inquiry that they have been collateral damage in the quest to build the state's new renewable energy transmission infrastructure at breakneck speed. Ian Barry, Kathy Morris and Ben Turner, who testified at the Upper House inquiry looking into the impact of renewable energy zones on regional communities, said that their lives had been irreparably damaged by the compulsory land acquisition process undertaken for the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP). The government's energy corporation, EnergyCo, which is responsible for planning the 100-kilometre transmission line between Bayswater and Eraring power stations, was universally condemned for unceasingly bullying landholders who resisted its plans. "Energy Co. has abandoned ideals of empathy, compassion and morality and taken a path of ill-conceived shortcuts and oversights," Cedar Creek resident Ian Barry told the inquiry. Mr Barry, who has advanced motor neurone disease, said he and his wife Vicky had spent a year arguing that more suitable alternatives to running high-voltage power lines across his land existed. Despite that, they were advised late last year that EnergyCo would compulsorily acquire an easement through their property, resulting in infrastructure coming within 600 metres of the house where Mr Barry had hoped to spend his final days in peace. "Effectively, easement doesn't mean renting your land. It means you no longer own it," Mr Barry, who previously shared his experiences with NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, said. "We have a year of diary entries documenting land access, coercion of neighbours, frequent bullying, phony eco-visits, lies, plus instances where EnergyCo. workers denied me basic disability rights like recording meetings and withholding information like easement details of our own land." Kathy and Peter Morris's 20-hectare property on the fringe of Pokolbin State Forest will also be compulsorily acquired for the HTP. Ms Morris said, based on her experience Energy Co was a "disorganised, self contradictory, mostly unfeeling, mostly un-listening, entity that is miserly with facts and seeks to overreach and bludgeon affected land holders into submission." Most of the property's dense native vegetation, much of which has been rehabilitated, is likely to be cleared for transmission infrastructure. Likewise, an animal sanctuary located on the property will also go by the wayside. Despite the emotional impact, Ms Morris said EnergyCo representatives had made her feel like she was an inconvenience to them. "We've been told that we're too emotional about the loss of our home. I have been told I am too angry, and when am I going to get over it? I have been told that I should be happy with what I get," she said. "I thought that EnergyCo was a public body serving the people of NSW, but it acts like its activities are state secrets and we are spies for the opposing government." Ben Turner's family owns a 175 hectare property in the Watagan Valley south of Cessnock that is due to have high voltage power lines strung over it. He told the inquiry that a power imbalance existed between the acquisition authority and landowners. "There is an inherent negotiating imbalance between a well-funded government entity and a dispossessed landowner who is not paid for their time in navigating the dispossession that they did not want in the first place," he said. "Secondly, acquiring authorities general unconditional reliance on their own valuer and other experts leaves little room for meaningful negotiation or compromise in circumstances where reasonable, qualified expert opinions may differ between the parties."
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Ill landholder urges compassion in shift to renewables
Filmmaker Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a publicised battle with government authority EnergyCo over the Hunter Transmission Project, which would involve the construction of high-voltage lines across part of their property. Mr Barry has accused EnergyCo of bullying and insensitivity, telling a NSW parliamentary inquiry the stress has only worsened his degenerative condition. "Given landowners are sacrificing home and land for the greater good, the very least they deserve is generosity in compensation, not mean penny-pinching," Mr Barry said in a pre-recorded statement to the inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday. "EnergyCo can either keep its bad-boy image ... or grow up and evolve into a noble government department operating on principles of humanity, decency and compassion." NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, who has met with Mr Barry, told a previous inquiry that landholders were finding the process challenging, but denied any bullying. EnergyCo has developed new community consultation guidelines for meaningful engagement, including the use of on-site local staff, according to the government's submission. An inquiry is examining the impact of renewable energy zones on rural and regional communities, including on their economies, industries and culture. The zones, which include solar and wind farms, batteries and transmission infrastructure, are planned for the Illawarra, the Hunter, the central west, the southwest and New England. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has received 24 complaints about the zones, related to "ad-hoc" consultation, placement of transmission lines and lack of transparency in planning. Consultation tended to be limited to landholders who would host the infrastructure, ombudsman Janine Young said. "Neighbours feel ignored even though they will have visual, noise and traffic (impacts) and are already experiencing dust impacts," Ms Young told the hearing. Stress and poor mental health had been reported by farmers, while regional councils were concerned about an influx of workers putting pressure on already stretched local services. "To build trust in this sector and in the energy transition, we all need to consult, engage and share information and support each other," she said. NSW Agriculture commissioner Alison Stone said consultation was a "vexed issue", but EnergyCo was examining how it could be more flexible in engaging rural residents. "Big change does take time and certainly ... land use change in particular, does mean that there are people that take longer to come on the journey," Ms Stone said. The inquiry is due to hold a hearing in Dubbo on Friday, after the government approved several renewable projects in the Central West-Orana zone in early May. Filmmaker Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a publicised battle with government authority EnergyCo over the Hunter Transmission Project, which would involve the construction of high-voltage lines across part of their property. Mr Barry has accused EnergyCo of bullying and insensitivity, telling a NSW parliamentary inquiry the stress has only worsened his degenerative condition. "Given landowners are sacrificing home and land for the greater good, the very least they deserve is generosity in compensation, not mean penny-pinching," Mr Barry said in a pre-recorded statement to the inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday. "EnergyCo can either keep its bad-boy image ... or grow up and evolve into a noble government department operating on principles of humanity, decency and compassion." NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, who has met with Mr Barry, told a previous inquiry that landholders were finding the process challenging, but denied any bullying. EnergyCo has developed new community consultation guidelines for meaningful engagement, including the use of on-site local staff, according to the government's submission. An inquiry is examining the impact of renewable energy zones on rural and regional communities, including on their economies, industries and culture. The zones, which include solar and wind farms, batteries and transmission infrastructure, are planned for the Illawarra, the Hunter, the central west, the southwest and New England. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has received 24 complaints about the zones, related to "ad-hoc" consultation, placement of transmission lines and lack of transparency in planning. Consultation tended to be limited to landholders who would host the infrastructure, ombudsman Janine Young said. "Neighbours feel ignored even though they will have visual, noise and traffic (impacts) and are already experiencing dust impacts," Ms Young told the hearing. Stress and poor mental health had been reported by farmers, while regional councils were concerned about an influx of workers putting pressure on already stretched local services. "To build trust in this sector and in the energy transition, we all need to consult, engage and share information and support each other," she said. NSW Agriculture commissioner Alison Stone said consultation was a "vexed issue", but EnergyCo was examining how it could be more flexible in engaging rural residents. "Big change does take time and certainly ... land use change in particular, does mean that there are people that take longer to come on the journey," Ms Stone said. The inquiry is due to hold a hearing in Dubbo on Friday, after the government approved several renewable projects in the Central West-Orana zone in early May. Filmmaker Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a publicised battle with government authority EnergyCo over the Hunter Transmission Project, which would involve the construction of high-voltage lines across part of their property. Mr Barry has accused EnergyCo of bullying and insensitivity, telling a NSW parliamentary inquiry the stress has only worsened his degenerative condition. "Given landowners are sacrificing home and land for the greater good, the very least they deserve is generosity in compensation, not mean penny-pinching," Mr Barry said in a pre-recorded statement to the inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday. "EnergyCo can either keep its bad-boy image ... or grow up and evolve into a noble government department operating on principles of humanity, decency and compassion." NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, who has met with Mr Barry, told a previous inquiry that landholders were finding the process challenging, but denied any bullying. EnergyCo has developed new community consultation guidelines for meaningful engagement, including the use of on-site local staff, according to the government's submission. An inquiry is examining the impact of renewable energy zones on rural and regional communities, including on their economies, industries and culture. The zones, which include solar and wind farms, batteries and transmission infrastructure, are planned for the Illawarra, the Hunter, the central west, the southwest and New England. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has received 24 complaints about the zones, related to "ad-hoc" consultation, placement of transmission lines and lack of transparency in planning. Consultation tended to be limited to landholders who would host the infrastructure, ombudsman Janine Young said. "Neighbours feel ignored even though they will have visual, noise and traffic (impacts) and are already experiencing dust impacts," Ms Young told the hearing. Stress and poor mental health had been reported by farmers, while regional councils were concerned about an influx of workers putting pressure on already stretched local services. "To build trust in this sector and in the energy transition, we all need to consult, engage and share information and support each other," she said. NSW Agriculture commissioner Alison Stone said consultation was a "vexed issue", but EnergyCo was examining how it could be more flexible in engaging rural residents. "Big change does take time and certainly ... land use change in particular, does mean that there are people that take longer to come on the journey," Ms Stone said. The inquiry is due to hold a hearing in Dubbo on Friday, after the government approved several renewable projects in the Central West-Orana zone in early May. Filmmaker Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a publicised battle with government authority EnergyCo over the Hunter Transmission Project, which would involve the construction of high-voltage lines across part of their property. Mr Barry has accused EnergyCo of bullying and insensitivity, telling a NSW parliamentary inquiry the stress has only worsened his degenerative condition. "Given landowners are sacrificing home and land for the greater good, the very least they deserve is generosity in compensation, not mean penny-pinching," Mr Barry said in a pre-recorded statement to the inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday. "EnergyCo can either keep its bad-boy image ... or grow up and evolve into a noble government department operating on principles of humanity, decency and compassion." NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, who has met with Mr Barry, told a previous inquiry that landholders were finding the process challenging, but denied any bullying. EnergyCo has developed new community consultation guidelines for meaningful engagement, including the use of on-site local staff, according to the government's submission. An inquiry is examining the impact of renewable energy zones on rural and regional communities, including on their economies, industries and culture. The zones, which include solar and wind farms, batteries and transmission infrastructure, are planned for the Illawarra, the Hunter, the central west, the southwest and New England. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has received 24 complaints about the zones, related to "ad-hoc" consultation, placement of transmission lines and lack of transparency in planning. Consultation tended to be limited to landholders who would host the infrastructure, ombudsman Janine Young said. "Neighbours feel ignored even though they will have visual, noise and traffic (impacts) and are already experiencing dust impacts," Ms Young told the hearing. Stress and poor mental health had been reported by farmers, while regional councils were concerned about an influx of workers putting pressure on already stretched local services. "To build trust in this sector and in the energy transition, we all need to consult, engage and share information and support each other," she said. NSW Agriculture commissioner Alison Stone said consultation was a "vexed issue", but EnergyCo was examining how it could be more flexible in engaging rural residents. "Big change does take time and certainly ... land use change in particular, does mean that there are people that take longer to come on the journey," Ms Stone said. The inquiry is due to hold a hearing in Dubbo on Friday, after the government approved several renewable projects in the Central West-Orana zone in early May.
West Australian
13-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Ill landholder urges compassion in shift to renewables
Filmmaker Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a publicised battle with government authority EnergyCo over the Hunter Transmission Project, which would involve the construction of high-voltage lines across part of their property. Mr Barry has accused EnergyCo of bullying and insensitivity, telling a NSW parliamentary inquiry the stress has only worsened his degenerative condition. "Given landowners are sacrificing home and land for the greater good, the very least they deserve is generosity in compensation, not mean penny-pinching," Mr Barry said in a pre-recorded statement to the inquiry in Sydney on Tuesday. "EnergyCo can either keep its bad-boy image ... or grow up and evolve into a noble government department operating on principles of humanity, decency and compassion." NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe, who has met with Mr Barry, told a previous inquiry that landholders were finding the process challenging, but denied any bullying. EnergyCo has developed new community consultation guidelines for meaningful engagement, including the use of on-site local staff, according to the government's submission. An inquiry is examining the impact of renewable energy zones on rural and regional communities, including on their economies, industries and culture. The zones, which include solar and wind farms, batteries and transmission infrastructure, are planned for the Illawarra, the Hunter, the central west, the southwest and New England. The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has received 24 complaints about the zones, related to "ad-hoc" consultation, placement of transmission lines and lack of transparency in planning. Consultation tended to be limited to landholders who would host the infrastructure, ombudsman Janine Young said. "Neighbours feel ignored even though they will have visual, noise and traffic (impacts) and are already experiencing dust impacts," Ms Young told the hearing. Stress and poor mental health had been reported by farmers, while regional councils were concerned about an influx of workers putting pressure on already stretched local services. "To build trust in this sector and in the energy transition, we all need to consult, engage and share information and support each other," she said. NSW Agriculture commissioner Alison Stone said consultation was a "vexed issue", but EnergyCo was examining how it could be more flexible in engaging rural residents. "Big change does take time and certainly ... land use change in particular, does mean that there are people that take longer to come on the journey," Ms Stone said. The inquiry is due to hold a hearing in Dubbo on Friday, after the government approved several renewable projects in the Central West-Orana zone in early May.
